Copyright, Wright Balance® 2024

Note: The Zoom session for 6/24/ 2024 failed to record. I made videos to answer the questions I received by email and discussed during that Zoom session. This is a Quiz and copy of the first of a series of videos from the June 24, 2024 content.

The video appears again at the end of the Quiz and closing comments

What you will need to follow the video and quiz.

A putter

An Iron

Bungee and bar for hips

Tape for fingers

Alignment Stick

Question 1

Please show the difference before and after the Wright Balance® Express for the following:

• Grip Size (Bat)

• How the Hands hang

• The Trail Hip at address

• Foot Flare

• Carrying Angle

• Knee Pronation Supination

• Separation of Upper and Lower Body

Note: This video was shot in response to that question. There were additional questions and videos I will post in the next several days. Here is a link to that video:

The following are "Quiz questions based upon that video

Quiz Questions

Question 1

Wright Balance® has used measurements to determine grip size in all sports since 1996. The primary measurement for grip sizing was:

A. The combined measurements of the last three fingers of the bottom hand

B. The middle finger of the TOP hand on the handle

C. The distance from the tip of the middle finger to the wrist on the non dominant hand

D. None of the above

Answer

B. The Middle Finger of the TOP hand on the club for golf (note: For bat & ball sports e.g., baseball,softball, cricket, etc. the bottom hand is measured)

Question 2

When the grip size is too small, there will be:

A. A rotation of the hips

B. Balance movement to the player's toes

C. Neither A or B

D. Both A & B

Answer

BEFORE the Wright Balance® Express

D. Both A & B

The illustration below shows the impact on each Core Region when the grip is too small

When gripping a tapered object like a baseball bat from bottom to top, you will notice movement from the toes to the heels as shown here first with the small bat...

...and then a larger bat.

Following the Wright Balance® Express in the 5 subregions of the Dominant Core Zone (5 minutes) you can take a baseball bat and slowly slide your hands from the knob of the bat up the barrel to the top and you will not experience any hip rotation or change in heel to toe balance.

Note: Grip size no longer makes a difference in heel to toe balance and an incorrect size no longer creates an opening or closing of the hips Any player can use whatever grip size they choose. However, the grip size should allow for the set and release of the club.

Question 3

What impact does a grip size that is too small as shown in the above illustrations or too big as shown below have on a player's ability to rotate their shoulders?

Answer

Shoulder rotation is restricted in any configuration of balance that is forward, back or diagonal to the target line. Every player has 1 of 5 positions of balance within their Core Zone depending on their dominant subregion.

Question 4

Industry Standard for measuring a club, putter through driver is 2 inches down on the butt of the club. Instead of this measurement, Wright Balance® has always used:

A. 2.5 inches down from the butt of the club

B. 3.5 inches down from the butt of the club

C. The location of the middle finger on the club of the top hand after the player places their hands on the club

D. The location of the middle finger on the grip on the bottom hand

Answer

C. The location of the middle finger on the club of the top hand after the player places their hand on the club

Notice how far Anthony Kim grips down in this photo.

Question 5

When there is internal rotation of one hand as a person stands tall looking straight ahead (as shown in this photo of Nick Faldo and me below) suggests that:

A.The shoulder on the side of the internal rotation of the hand will be lower than the other

B. The pelvis will rotate on the side of the internal rotation of the hand

C. Biomechanically, this player is good to play

D. This person spent too much time in the gym

Answer

B. The pelvis will rotate on the side of the internal rotation of the hand as shown in this illustration

After the Wright Balance® 4-Way Express

The shoulders and hips will be level, the hips will be square in all stance widths...

and the hands will hang the same in all stance widths.

Question 6

TRUE OR FALSE

Placing an alignment stick through your belt loops is a good way to determine hip rotation.

Answer

False, False, False

Placing an alignment stick through your or your student's belt loops will NEVER give you an accurate measurement of the hip line.

Question 7

If the lead hand shows internal rotation when the player is standing tall, it is likely that:

A. The trail shoulder is lower than the lead shoulder

B. The trail hip is higher than the lead hip

C. The trail hip will be high when viewed from behind at address

D. All of the above

Answer

D. All of the above

Note the trail hip of this LPGA Player...

... and the trail hip of this amateur at address...

...and my trail hip standing tall and at address before the Wright Balance 4-Way Express.

After the Wright Balance® 4-Way Express

The LPGA player after the Wright Balance® 4-Way Express...

...and the amateur after doing the Wright Balance® 4-Way Express in his next lesson...

...and my level hips standing tall and my trail hip after the Wright Balance® 4-Way Express.

• Foot Flare

Question 8

Prior to the Wright Balance® 4-Way Express, how does foot flare impact the hip line?

A. Foot flare has no affect

B. Foot flare creates hip rotation

C. Foot flare is important for all players

D. None of the above.

Answer

B. Foot flare creates hip rotation as shown here

Foot Flare Before Wright Balance® 4-Way Express

Question 9

What effect does the Wright Balance® 4-way Express have on foot flare and hip rotation?

Answer

Following the Wright Balance® 4-Way Express, you can flare one or both feet and your hips will remain square...

...and you still have 90 plus degrees of shoulder rotation with flare as shown here

Separation of Upper and Lower Body before Wright Balance® 4-Way Express

Note: Please be careful when testing this with students. When I disrupted my Core, my dominant subregion was Blue 2. You will always "default" to your Dominant Core Zone and Dominant Subregion. When I disrupted my core, as shown on the video, and demonstrated that I could not create much separation in my upper and lower body, I was pushing as hard as I could to keep my shoulders on the floor and rotate my hips. I "tweaked" my back in the process. Don't push yourself or your students as you demonstrate this core separation.

My back "repair" was simple after I finished the video. Since I had "tweaked" my back while in my Dominant Subregion, Blue 2, I simply did the Wright Balance® Express in all 5 of the Posterior Zone subregions and experienced total relief within an hour. If your pain is soft tissue and you do the Wright Balance® Express in the Core Zone of your injury, relief will follow relatively quickly.

Separation of Upper and Lower Body Prior to Wright Balance® Express

Separation of Upper and Lower Body after Wright Balance® 4-Way Express

• Knee Pronation Supination

The linked video above demonstrates changes in knee pronation supination before and after the Wright Balance® 4-Way Express. After the Wright Balance® Express, the knees are directly over each foot in all activities whether you are walking, running or exercising I have never seen a process for Knee pronation / supination correction, only an acknowledgment that it exist. You will note that the Wright Balance® Express totally corrects knee pronation and supination and eliminates drag in all forward and backward movement.

Why is correction of knee pronation / supination important? I believe that there will be significant reduction in knee injuries when the joints of the body are aligned and when a muscle strengthening program is built around those aligned joints via the Wright Balance® Express. Wright Balance® provides mobility by aligning the joints of the body in symmetry. The Wright Balance® Express is not a strengthening program. When the joints are aligned with symmetry, which is created by the Wright Balance® Express, it minimizes changes in this alignment during routine activities and allows the player to "taps into" existing strength that is not available without the joint alignment.

You will be seeing the following quote again and again in the months ahead. It is a clear description of the impact the Wright Balance® Express has on the body from knee pronation / supination, to drag created by a rotated hip line during forward and backward movement and restriction of shoulder rotation due to hip rotation.

The following is an excerpt is from an article by Ash Williams that appeared in a Golf Fitness Best Practices Newsletter, June 6, 2024. It is the best summary I have seen in describing the linkage of mobility, stability, motor control, strength and Power. Break one link in that chain and the subsequent links suffer.

Performance Pathway: Mobility > Stability > Motor Control > Strength > Power

">Mobility serves as the precursor to all performance. You need to be able to create good joint alignment to have stability around that joint. Motor control refers to one’s ability to control their mobility and stability. Performance does not occur in full alignment all the time, but your ability to get back into alignment says a lot about your strength and power expression. Strength requires this joint alignment and control to be absolute. And if you have all your strength on the table, you will be able to access your power."

Ash Williams' overview speaks to the importance of the "before" the Wright Balance 4-Way Express Exercise and the symmetry created by that exercise. You will see a marked change in mobility following the Wright Balance® 4-Way Express as well as stability, motor control, strength and power as joints are aligned. Remember to tell your students, you will not fully "tap into" your existing strength until this alignment is present. You will see the results in impact, distance and all other measures of balance and ground reaction force before and after the Wright Balance® Express.

Here is a link to the Video of Question 1 answered:

Video Link to Question 2

How do I properly do the Wright Balance Express? How Do I determine whether to use a complimentary or butterfly grip?**

Video Link to Question 3

How did current and past great players square their hips at address?

Video Link to Question 4

How do I test for the Dominant Core Zone and the Dominant Subegion?

Video Link to Question 5

What Factors Impact Shoulder Rotaation?